Help is on the way for nearly 500 threatened species of
plants and animals. A bill addressing the need to prevent extinction of these
species and the degradation of their habitats effectively in the Philippines was
recently approved on first reading by the House of Representatives.
Aiming to conserve and protect biological diversity and
promote ecologically sustainable development, House Bill No. 3590 or the
"Adopt-A-Wildlife Species Act of 2008" filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman early
this year sets its sights on overcoming the setbacks in species conservation
work.
Identified as one of the world’s biologically rich countries,
the Philippines is also one of the most endangered areas and among the priority
hotspots for global conservation.
Conservation International based in Washington, D.C. states
that the Philippines’ tropical location and once extensive areas of rainforests
resulted in high species diversity and a very high level of endemism. But,
conservationists fear that the country will soon face an extinction crisis.
The butanding (whale shark), the tamaraw, the Philippine
eagle, and marine turtles, among other endangered species, continue to decline
in number, despite various conservation efforts including the Wildlife Resources
and Conservation Act (RA 9147) and the National Integrated Protected Areas
System Act (RA 7586).
With the active participation, involvement and assistance of local government
units, non-government organizations, people’s organizations, civil society
groups, and the private sector, the Adopt-A-Species Program strongly endorsed in
the bill will address major inhibiting factors to greater private sector
participation in conservation.
